The seven deadly sins also known as the capital vices or cardinal sins function as a grouping classification of major vices within the teachings of Christianity. In Catholicism, the classification of deadly sins into a group of seven originated with Tertullian , and continued with Evagrius Ponticus. Later, the concept of seven deadly sins evolved further, based upon historical context based upon the Latin language of the Roman Catholic Church, though with a significant influence from the Greek language and associated religious traditions.
Knowledge of the seven deadly sin concept is known through discussions in various treatises and also depictions in paintings and sculpture, for example architectural decorations on certain churches of certain Catholic parishes and also from certain older textbooks. Subsequently, over the centuries into modern times, the idea of sins especially seven in number has influenced or inspired various streams of religious and philosophical thought, fine art painting, and modern popular culture media such as literature , film , and television.
These "evil thoughts" can be categorized as follows: [ 3 ]. The fourth-century monk Evagrius Ponticus reduced the [ which? Evagrius's list was translated into the Latin of Western Christianity in many writings of John Cassian , [ 7 ] [ 8 ] thus becoming part of the Western tradition's spiritual pietas or Catholic devotions as follows: [ 3 ]. According to Catholic prelate Henry Edward Manning , the seven deadly sins are seven ways of eternal death.
Listed in order of increasing severity as per Pope Gregory I, 6th-century A. Lust or lechery is intense longing. It is usually thought of as intense or unbridled sexual desire , [ 20 ] which may lead to fornication including adultery , rape , bestiality , and other sinful and sexual acts; oftentimes, however, it can also mean other forms of unbridled desire, such as for money, or power.
Henry Edward Manning explains that the impurity of lust transforms one into "a slave of the devil ". Lust is generally thought to be the least serious capital sin. Gluttony is the overindulgence and overconsumption of anything to the point of waste. The word derives from the Latin gluttire , meaning to gulp down or swallow. Medieval church leaders such as Thomas Aquinas took a more expansive view of gluttony, [ 25 ] arguing that it could also include an obsessive anticipation of meals and overindulgence in delicacies and costly foods.
